US3878804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ice-breaking apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-07
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for forming slits in ice to facilitate the ice-breaking operation by dragging a hose over the surface of the ice and directing jets of a heated medium against the contacted surface of the ice. The hose is drawn over the ice by for example a vessel having a beam cantilevered forwardly therefrom. One or more flexible hoses having nozzles therein are suspended from the beam and jets of steam from the nozzles are directed onto the ice. The flexibility of the hoses allows the same to follow varying contours and irregularities in the ice surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Friedrich J Legerer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:55
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
In a method of breaking ice in the path of travel of a vessel, the improvement comprising dragging a flexible hose having a series of nozzles in contact with the ice and directing jets of a heated medium from the nozzles of the hose against the contacted area of the ice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a method of breaking ice in the path of travel of a vessel, the improvement comprising dragging a flexible hose having a series of nozzles in contact with the ice and directing jets of a heated medium from the nozzles of the hose against the contacted area of the ice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a method of breaking ice in the path of travel of a vessel, the improvement comprising dragging a flexible hose having a series of nozzles in contact with the ice and directing jets of a heated medium from the nozzles of the hose against the contacted area of the ice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a method of breaking ice in the path of travel of a vessel, the improvement comprising dragging a flexible hose having a series of nozzles in contact with the ice and directing jets of a heated medium from the nozzles of the hose against the contacted area of the ice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for forming a slit in an ice mass in the path of travel of a vessel, comprising: a. a vessel; b. a flexible hose having a plurality of nozzles in series along a portion of the length thereof; c. means mounted on said vessel and connected to one end of said hose for dragging the same over the ice surface forwardly of the vessel during forward movement of such vessel, said nozzles being located on a side of the hose in contact with the ice during dragging thereof; and d. means supplying a heated medium under pressure to said hose during use of said apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for forming a slit in an ice mass in the path of travel of a vessel, comprising: a. a vessel; b. a flexible hose having a plurality of nozzles in series along a portion of the length thereof; c. means mounted on said vessel and connected to one end of said hose for dragging the same over the ice surface forwardly of the vessel during forward movement of such vessel, said nozzles being located on a side of the hose in contact with the ice during dragging thereof; and d. means supplying a heated medium under pressure to said hose during use of said apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for forming a slit in an ice mass in the path of travel of a vessel, comprising: a. a vessel; b. a flexible hose having a plurality of nozzles in series along a portion of the length thereof; c. means mounted on said vessel and connected to one end of said hose for dragging the same over the ice surface forwardly of the vessel during forward movement of such vessel, said nozzles being located on a side of the hose in contact with the ice during dragging thereof; and d. means supplying a heated medium under pressure to said hose during use of said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus for forming a slit in an ice mass in the path of travel of a vessel, comprising: a. a vessel; b. a flexible hose having a plurality of nozzles in series along a portion of the length thereof; c. means mounted on said vessel and connected to one end of said hose for dragging the same over the ice surface forwardly of the vessel during forward movement of such vessel, said nozzles being located on a side of the hose in contact with the ice during dragging thereof; and d. means supplying a heated medium under pressure to said hose during use of said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said means mounted on said vessel comprises a beam cantilevered forwardly from the prow of the vessel during use of said apparatus and including further means suspending the hose from said beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 includinG means for pivotally mounting said beam on said vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said beam is pivotable about a vertical axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said beam is pivotable about a horizontal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including a header conduit supported by said beam and extending longitudinally therealong for supplying the heated medium to said hose.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including feeder conduits connected to said header conduit and flexible hose at positions respectively longitudinally along the beam and said flexible hose.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including valves for controlling the supply of heated medium to said flexible hose.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including means restraining torsional movement of said hose.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including weights on said flexible hose along the generating line of said nozzles compensating against reacting lifting forces on the flexible hose.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including two further flexible hoses each having a series of nozzles therein and means for suspending the same laterally respectively on opposite sides of the flexible hose defined in claim 3 to drag such further flexible hoses over the ice surface, thereby providing means for forming three slits in the ice mass in the path of travel of the vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said two further flexible hoses are movably mounted for selectively varying the distance of the same from the flexible hose disposed therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible hose comprises a plurality of rigid hose sections hingedly interconnected in end-to-end relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 including conduit coupling means on each of said rigid hose sections and feeder hoses connected to each of said coupling means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |